|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Own Correspondent
Design and construction company Khato Civils says the time has come for African firms to champion an Africa-led infrastructure revolution on the continent.
Khato Civils chairman Simbi Phiri says it is for this reason the company is on an expansion drive to the SADC region and Africa.
“To improve our efficiency in delivering projects, we have under Khato holdings a Construction company – Khato Civils, a designing company – South Zambezi, and an equipment company Khato Equipment.
“We have some of the best construction equipment on the continent” added Simbi Phiri.
The South African-based company is currently constructing a state-of-the-art water treatment plant in Gaborone Botswana. (https://www.khatocivils.com/
The water treatment plant project was awarded after the firm successfully completed and delivered to the Government of Botswana a 100-kilometre pipeline project moving raw water from the north of Gaborone to the city’s main treatment plant.
That project has helped to end water rationing in Botswana’s capital city.
The Khato Civils executive chairman says the company is already making in-roads into Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Ghana, and South Sudan.
“For as long as Africa remains underdeveloped, we will be one of the key role players on the continent,” says Phiri.
With the majority of major infrastructure works going to multinational firms, and many markets lacking legislation that ensures local subcontracting & supplier opportunities, African entrepreneurs are being locked out of the development of their own nations.
Simbi Phiri is therefore calling for change across the sector and for African firms to lead in Africa’s infrastructure rollout.
“The only thing an African need is an opportunity,” he says.
Khato Civils, a Khato Holdings company, has grown from a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grade 4 to CIDB grade 9 company, since being bought by Malawi-born chairperson Simbi Phiri in 2010.
Grade 9 is the highest grade by standards in South Africa.
Beyond its passion for the water sector, Khato Civils has grown its competence in the construction of roads and buildings infrastructure and mechanical and electrical works.
